Labour & Employment Law

Labour and Employment Law in India is the body of laws, rules, and regulations that govern the relationship between employers, workers, and the government. It deals with:

• Conditions of work

• Wages & benefits

• Industrial disputes

• Social security & welfare

• Rights and duties of workers and employers

🔹 Evolution

Earlier, India had 44+ central labour laws and many state laws. To simplify, the government has consolidated them into 4 Labour Codes (though full implementation is still pending):

1. Code on Wages, 2019

   • Covers payment of wages, equal pay for equal work, minimum wages, bonus, etc.

2. Industrial Relations Code, 2020

   • Governs trade unions, industrial disputes, strikes, and employer–employee relations.

3. Code on Social Security, 2020

   • Provides social security benefits like provident fund (PF), employee state insurance (ESI), maternity benefits, gratuity, etc.

4. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

   • Deals with safety, health, and working conditions in factories, mines, plantations, etc.

🔹 Key Principles of Labour & Employment Law in India

1. Right to Fair Wages

   • Minimum wages must be paid, no gender discrimination.

2. Working Hours & Conditions

   • Standard work hours (8 hours/day, 48 hours/week), overtime, rest intervals, safe workplace.

3. Job Security & Dispute Resolution

   • Protection against unfair dismissal, mechanisms for resolving disputes.

4. Trade Unions & Collective Bargaining

   • Workers have the right to form unions and bargain collectively.

5. Social Security

   • Schemes for pension, insurance, medical benefits, gratuity, maternity leave, etc.

6. Prohibition of Child Labour & Forced Labour

   • Children below 14 cannot be employed (except in family enterprises under certain conditions).

🔹 Major Laws (before codes)

• Factories Act, 1948

• Minimum Wages Act, 1948

• Payment of Wages Act, 1936

• Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

• Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952

• Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

• Contract Labour Act, 1970

🔹 Importance

• Protects workers from exploitation.

• Ensures healthy employer–employee relations.

• Balances economic growth with workers’ rights.

• Provides social and financial security to employees.